Module Title Integrated Management Research Project

Module Code

Assignment Format Research Project

Word Count 2028 words (excluding title page and references).

Research Topic Greenwashing

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1. Introduction

Greenwashing is the dishonest practice of deceiving buyers regarding a product's services, or

firm's ecological advantages. It has grown into a widespread problem in numerous sectors
when corporations portray a misleading picture regarding durability or friendly to the
environment to attract ecologically reactive customers. The purpose of this study is to
investigate the prevalence of greenwashing in business sectors, analyze the motivations for
company acceptance, and estimate its effect on customers. It will also debate whether official
involvement is required for oversight or ban greenwashing.
Monitoring the incidence of greenwashing is critical for several factors. For starters, it
enables customers to make educated decisions by revealing the scope of misleading practices.
This prevents customers from succumbing for false assurances and safeguards their financial
well-being. Recognizing the causes underlying greenwashing allows for the implementation
of required measures to improve openness and integrity within industry.
Exposing greenwashing strategies helps to boost openness, accurately portray global
consequences, and promote true ecological practices. Finally, the investigation's insights
might advise legislators about the necessity for rules and regulations to tackle greenwashing
successfully. Governments may design regulations that fosters openness, penalizes
misleading practices, and protects customer interests by evaluating the influence of
greenwashing on buyers and the marketplace.

2. Aims and Objectives

1. Examine the widespread use of greenwashing in a variety of areas, including clothing,

nutrition, electricity, and commuting.
2. Examine the incentives for organizations to use greenwashing methods, such as
claimed revenue rewards, image perks, and rivalry.
3. Investigate how greenwashing affects customer behavior, such as buying choices,
devotion to a company, and trustworthiness.
4. Examine the ecological repercussions of greenwashing and its effects for conservation
initiatives.
5. Examine the significance and possible efficacy of federal efforts to control or
criminalize greenwashing.
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3. Philosophical Approach and Strategy

A pragmatic perspective and the deductive method of inquiry are used in the investigation's
ideology and approach to studying greenwashing.

3.1 Pragmatist Strategy:

Philosophical perspective known as pragmatism places a strong emphasis on real-world

applications and results. It emphasizes the significance of experiencing thoughts firsthand and
then altering them to get the intended effects. It is possible to examine the consequences of
greenwashing on the purchasing habits and the natural world practically through bringing
pragmatism to the subject. It promotes digging out alternatives with observable advantages
and accountability in corporate operations.
Because it emphasizes pragmatism and resolving issues a pragmatic scientific strategy is
appropriate for examining greenwashing. It understands the significance of confronting
actual-world challenges and developing effective suggestions. A pragmatic strategy for
greenwashing facilitates the exploration of feasible methods to prevent fraudulent practices
and enhance openness and integrity in industry. This strategy assures that the study
discoveries will influence actual changes and developments in resolving greenwashing
challenges by concentrating on realistic effects and actual events consequences.

3.2 Deductive Research Approach:

The deductive research method requires gathering and analyzing evidence to verify a
proposition or idea. A deductive approach to analyzing greenwashing would begin with a
fundamental underpinning and then acquire actual data to support or contradict it. This
technique enables a methodical analysis of how greenwashing affects how customers act and
why businesses use these tactics.
The deductive approach to conducting inquiry entails expanding on already accepted ideas
and body of information. This tactic, in the context of "greenwashing," comprises making use
of a variety of previously published literary works, conceptual structures, and theoretical
perspectives on the subject. The investigation seeks to advance knowledge of greenwashing
tactics and how they affect buyers by referencing well-established ideas and notions.
Making study aims and assumptions grounded in the body of evidence already in existence is
the first step in the deductive approach. This serves as a conceptual framework that directs
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the method of gathering and analyzing data. The study seeks to confirm improve, or expand
on current hypotheses or paradigms about greenwashing employing the deductive method.
The examination of greenwashing aims to offer useful advice and suggestions grounded in
current concepts and information by taking a pragmatic perspective and using a deductive
inquiry style. The investigation is founded in actuality, produces significant results, and
enhances knowledge of greenwashing tactics and their effects on customers and
organizations.

4. Method of Data Collection

As per (Ahmad et al., 2014), only secondary sources were used in this study. Secondary
research is a type of research that uses previously gathered data. It is necessary to summarize
and combine the earlier data in order to maximize the study's overall effectiveness. A
significant benefit of secondary research is its ability to reach findings without the necessity
for additional data collection.
This facilitates the advancement of information and expertise while saving time and money
for researchers. Researchers can do research in situations where primary research may not be
practicable or ethical, which improves efficiency and allows them to build on knowledge they
have already gathered. By carefully selecting sources and employing a determined technique,
researchers use secondary research to make a difference and advance their field.
For the purpose of this study, acceptable papers from online databases like ScienceDirect and
Google Scholar were used in addition to several renowned academic journals in the fields of
HRM, training and development, and organizational behavior. These peer-reviewed journals
included the, the Applied Psychology Journal, Human Resource Management Journal, the
International Journal for New Technology and Research (IJNTR), and the International
Journal of Managerial Studies and Research (IJMSR). Data on the association between
workers and productivity-boosting training were gathered using pertinent keywords and
publications.

5. Data Analysis

As per (Torelli, 2019), the study examines greenwashing practices in corporate

environmental communication. It demonstrates how corporations strategically employ
language and symbols to present an image of environmental stewardship while diverting
attention from unethical behavior The authors also describe the phrase "greenwash" as a wide
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range of deceptive statements designed to give stakeholders false hope about a company's
environmental efforts. As per them, stakeholders find it difficult to distinguish between
businesses that perform well and those that merely appear to support a sustainable
development model because of the growing number of corporate social responsibility claims,
whether or not they are supported. They also aim to comprehend and evaluate the various
effects that various misleading environmental communications have on stakeholders' views
of corporate environmental responsibility and greenwashing in this context through the lenses
of legitimacy and signaling theory environmental Labels and Declarations: A Review of
Greenwashing and the Potential for Harmonization"
As per Sarah E. Lewis et al. (2013), this article examines the practice of "greenwashing" in
relation to environmental certifications and labels. It talks about the difficulties with
"greenwashing" and the possibility of harmonizing labeling policies to boost credibility and
counter false advertising. By doing this the customers while buying products are unable to
distinguish between is it a honest reviewed label or not. There is another research which
implicit that there are more than 2000 goods available in North American retail outlets. It
outlines the "Six Sins of Greenwashing," which are typical tactics employed to deceive
consumers with erroneous environmental claims.
According to (Terra Choice, 2020), there is huge number of products in the market which
claims to be useful however, in actual they are deceiving the buyers.
As per (Szabo, S. 2021), the author in this article highlights the environmental initiatives to
the public that many businesses want to strengthen their environmental positions, they are
doing this by utilizing green marketing techniques to establish a competitive edge and win
over environmentally conscientious customers. He further mentioned that some green
marketing statements, known as "greenwashing," do not, however, correctly reflect how
businesses behave in terms of the environment. Greenwashing could impact a company's
reputation in addition to its financial performance. Therefore, by exploring additional
influences and consequences of perceived greenwashing. Moreover, during the research they
discovered that perceived greenwashing affects website visitors' happiness as well as their
perceptions of the environment and products.
According to (Szabo, S. 2021), a correlation between website engagement and views of
environmental and product perceptions, as well as perceived greenwashing. Additionally, in
another article the author provides a thorough analysis of the literature on greenwashing and
suggests a paradigm for comprehending the causes, methods, and effects of greenwashing. It
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talks about how regulating elements, corporate responsibility, and consumer mistrust play a
part in battling greenwashing tactics.
As per (Qureshi et al., 2020), the companies producing products and creating a wrong
perception among the buyers by labeling them as eco-friendly products whether in actual
these products are eco-friendly or not.
In the third edition of book, “The new rules of green marketing”, Jacquelyn A. Ottman
(Ottman, 2017) demonstrates how the green market has surpassed niche marketing and how
managers will discover competitive advantages and more success advocating for the higher
intrinsic worth of their goods and services. A credible value-based green marketing plan may
be built using the book's practical tactics, resources, and inspiration. However, the book also
pays close attention to consumer purchasing habits and the research of the green consumer
market. Also, he adds that either the green products are market or not they would have a
greater sale as the consumers mindset have shifted towards these products. This clearly
implicates the purpose of our study that greenwashing in business sectors worked as a
motivation to introduce products in name of durability and friendly to the environment so that
the buyers would buy more in comparison to those which are not. As the awareness of
environment importance has been increased in the customers and it has a positive impact on
the selling of products under the label of eco-friendly.

These studies and articles provide insightful information on the idea of "greenwashing," how
common it is, and the effects it has on customers, companies, and the environment.
Researchers can learn more about the problem and its potential solutions by looking at these
sources.

6. Reflective Evaluation

Considering the secondary research on greenwashing that has been supplied, this issue is
widespread and has a big impact on customers, companies, and the environment. The studies
and publications mentioned provide insightful information about the dishonest strategies used
by businesses to appear to be environmentally conscious while potentially misleading
customers.
The study also highlights the significance of truthful environmental claims and the potential
repercussions of greenwashing. It addresses how consumer trust is damaged by
greenwashing, how sustainability efforts are thwarted, and how environmental labeling
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programs are less effective. The papers also offer suggested remedies, such as the necessity
of standardizing labeling policies and enhancing corporate accountability.
The above researches implicates various ways which includes corporate environmental
communication, labeling strategies, consumer skepticism, and regulatory issues, the research
offers a thorough knowledge of greenwashing. It draws attention to the technique’s
businesses employ, such as ambiguous language, eco-friendly images, and deceptive
certifications, to give the impression that they are environmentally conscious
In conclusion, the secondary study on greenwashing provides insightful analyses of the
dishonest business practices and emphasizes the importance of responsibility, openness, and
consumer education in order to effectively counteract greenwashing. These findings can be
used by researchers, companies, and governments to create rules, increase public awareness,
and promote market-based sustainability practices.
However, there are some challenges that faced while researching such as its secondary data
so the most I could be make this authentic while being careful to choose articles. Another
challenge for me was managing my time effectively while juggling other academic and
personal obligations. Making a thorough strategy for all aspects of my research tasks helped
me stay on task and efficiently manage my time. I tried my level best to gather valuable
knowledge and analyze the data from reliable sources of information.

Below is the status of my work as far now. Further, would gather all and compile the
research project and will make my final presentation.
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Gantt Chart

28- 8- 18- 28- 8- 18- 28- 8- 18- 28- 8-

ID Description Mar Apr Apr Apr May May May Jun Jun Jun Jul

1 Selecting Topic IIIII

2 Overview of Topic IIIII

3 Writing Research Proposal IIIIIIIIII

4 Submitting Proposal IIIIII

5 Analysis of Research Articles IIIIIIIIIII

6 Annotated Bibliography IIIIIIIIIII

7 Data Collection IIIII

6 Data Analysis IIIII

8 Compiling Research Project IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

10 Final Presentation IIIIIIIIIIIII

Gantt chart makes it simple to manage and group tasks for efficient event planning. It also
allows you to create relationships between tasks and assign dependency among them.

Similarly, in the above image, we can see that general event planning is divided into
numerous tasks like overview, proposal, data collection & analysis also, a task has
interdependent subtasks, like we cannot do the analysis before the relevant data collection
therefore managing the task through a Gantt chart helps us in achieving a result by staying on
track.
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References

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Béatrice Parguel, Florence Benoit-Moreau & Cristel Antonia Russell (2015) Can evoking
nature in advertising mislead consumers? The power of ‘executional
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Cherry, M. A., & Sneirson, J. F. (2012). Chevron, greenwashing, and the myth of'green oil
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